Chapter 8
Camille
It’s been two days since the accident that landed Cole in the hospital and he’s finally coming home. The boys and I spent all yesterday evening getting the whole house cleaned and I started a roast in the crockpot an hour ago that’ll be ready by six. Now we’re sitting around, waiting for Brett to bring Cole home while I read to the kids to try to help distract us all. The second we hear the sound of a car door close out front, the book is forgotten and all of our eyes, even little Joey’s, are on the door.
“Boys! Cam! We’re home!” Brett’s voice calls out the second he opens the front door and while Holden and Cody rush over to him, Joey and I sit on the couch, not wanting to create another obstacle for them to navigate to get him inside.
“Dad! We made cookies yesterday for you and Cam started dinner! We’re having Roast with carrots and potatoes!” Holden’s excited voice has me smiling as I watch Cole limp in on crutches.
“Sounds damn good, bud. Anything’s better than that shit they fed me at the hospital. Where’s Cam and Joey?” With Brett’s giant ass in the way, it’s no surprise he can’t see us, but he quickly maneuvers around them when Holden points to us on the couch and his whole damn face lights up with a bright smile that I know has to hurt like hell, not that it stops him.
“Hey, how was everything?” I don’t doubt he can see the relief that washed over me the second he came through that door, but I don’t even care if he sees it.
“The kids were great and the house is still standing, so we’re calling it a win.” I watch him carefully make his way over to the recliner, lowering himself carefully then he hands the crutches to Holden.
“Bud, can you put these against the wall so no one trips over them?” Holden does as Cole asks and that’s when Brett speaks up.
“Aright, guys. If you’re all good here, I’m going to head home. I need to get some laundry done and hang with the wifey before work tomorrow.” We say our goodbyes and a few minutes later, he’s out the door. We all hang out in the living room, watching movies while the boys ask Cole tons of questions about the accident. Well, Holden asks questions about the accident while Cody asks questions about the crutches and then breaks into telling Cole about his flashcards.
“How are you doing, Cam?” I put the boys to bed almost an hour ago and have been sitting in the living room with Cole ever since, both of us staring at the TV, but I don’t think either of us were actually watching what’s on it.
“You get in a wreck and you’re asking how I’m doing?” He chuckles softly and nods his head.
“Yeah, I am. You stayed with the boys the whole time I was in there, so yeah, I’m asking how you’re doing.” I take a second to think about it, but the answer comes pretty easily.
“Aside from worrying about your grumpy ass, I’ve been good. The boys were great and grams is enjoying her peace and quiet. How are you feeling? Did they send you home with pain meds?” He nods and gives me a tired smile.
“I’m feeling a little better, but they sent me home with shit for the pain.” I take a second to do the mental math, realizing it’s been over eight hours since he got home which means he should be past due for his next dose.
“Shit, let me get you your pills and I’ll bring you some water.” I don’t wait for his response before getting up and heading right to his duffel bag that Brett left on the floor behind the couch. I find the prescription bottle with his pills easy enough then quickly grab three bottles of water, two for him and one for myself. Once he’s taken his pill, I put the pills on the shelf by the entertainment center, making sure they’re out of Cody and Joey’s reach.
“Alright, you need to use the restroom before we settle in for the night?” I can tell he’s hating this…relying on help for something as simple as using the restroom, but he manages a stiff nod.
“Yeah, but if you get me the crutches, I can handle it.” This man is insane, absolutely certifiable if he thinks he can maneuver the downstairs half bath’s cramped space on crutches.
“Yeah, I’m just going to help you get in there. I don’t know how the hell you fit in that small ass room, so fitting you and your crutches is asking for trouble.” I can tell he wants to protest, to flat out refuse to let me help him with this, but he’s either too damn tired, or maybe he sees that I’m not about to back down because he lets out a heavy sigh then holds out his hand for help. Getting him standing, I’ll admit, is more challenging than I expected. Don’t get me wrong, I knew he was built like a brick house, but seeing it and helping lift it are two very different things. I can tell he’s trying not to lean too much of his weight on me as we make our way toward the bathroom.
“Hey, I’m here to help and you’re treating me like I’m fragile…stop it.” I feel the vibrations of his deep chuckle vibrate through my side where I’m pressed against his, but the distraction of it fades when I feel more of his weight press into me.
“There, you happy now?” His playful tone pulls a smile out of me, but I quickly nod.
“Why, yes…yes I am. Alright, I'll stay by the door so I can help you back to your chair when you’re done. I’d offer you the couch, but I think we can both agree that you’re too damn tall to fit.” He gives me a playful glare that’s nullified by the smirk on his face before he shakes his head, braces his hands on the doorframe and hops his ass into the bathroom…his ass that looks way too good in the grey sweatpants I brought to the hospital for him. I hear a few muffled curses before hearing the toilet flush followed by the sound of him washing his hands then the loud banging as he hops back to the door. When it opens, I try not to laugh at how annoyed he looks and I succeed…barely.
“Not…a…word.” His tone is still playful even though I can see that he’s genuinely irritated with the situation.
“Alright, you big baby, let’s get you back to your temporary bed.” I wrap one arm around his waist…most of the way around it…while he wraps his around my shoulders and lets me help him hop his happy ass back to the living room. Once I have him back in his chair, I run upstairs and grab one of the extra comforters from the linen closet then hurry back down to him. He gives me a confused look as I shake it out to unfold it then carefully cover him, almost like he was expecting me to force him to sort it out on his own.
“You need anything else?” He’s giving me this look…it’s a little intense and I can’t quite figure out what the hell he’s thinking or feeling, but then he shakes his head.
“No, I’m good, but thank you, Cam.” He clears his throat and gives me a strained smile as he carefully pulls the lever for the footrest and reclines back. I get situated on the couch, sitting on the cushion closest to the recliner and curling into a ball like a damn cat.
“Goodnight, Cole.” I barely mumble the words out, but I catch his response just as darkness pulls me under.
“Goodnight, Cam.”
Cole’s been home for four days and things, for the most part, have settled down a lot. He gets around on the crutches like a damn pro, but I still bring over breakfast and dinner for him and the boys. I’ve been trying not to hover too much, but I hate the thought of him trying to do too much and ending up hurting himself worse.
Today is just another day where I took them breakfast and now I’m back at gram’s, working on making homemade lasagna to take over for dinner since gram and Iris are going out for a lady’s night, which means an early dinner and bingo at the senior center. I finish getting everything together then head over at five, wanting to make sure I give myself time to help with the boy’s bedtime routine since Cole can’t make it up and down the stairs. The second I knock, I’m greeted with the sound of sheer chaos as Cody and Holden race to get to the door.
“Cam!” Cody wraps his arms around my legs and Holden quickly takes the dish with the lasagna so I can wrestle Cody back inside. Poor Cole is looking like he’s five seconds away from completely loosing his mind and he barely manages a smile as I walk past him. I quickly set the garlic bread on the counter and head back to the living room, taking a seat on the edge of the couch.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” And there’s that forced smile again as he shakes his head and lowers his gaze.
“The boys have been…a lot to handle today.” The way he subconsciously starts rubbing his leg makes it easy to see that he’s mostly upset over not being able to function normally enough to handle it on his own and I hate it for him.
“Okay, then let me stay a few more nights and I’ll help with the boys.” It’s such a simple suggestion, but I can tell how much it bothers him. It’s not even because it’s me, but because he hates relying on others and…I get it.
“Cam, I can’t…” Oh, this stubborn bastard. As if I’m really going to just let him suffer on his own here!
“But you can, Cole. I’m not offering out of some sense of obligation, or because I feel bad for you. I’m offering because I want to. You don’t have to go through this alone, so just…let me help you.” I know I sound like I’m practically begging him, but I don’t even care. I don’t want him to struggle and I don’t want the boys to see the less this broken and weary side of their dad.
“Cam, you’ve already done so much. It’s not fair…” I don’t let him finish. I’m not going to sit here and listen to him as he tries to talk me out of giving him the help he clearly needs.
“Cole, I’m staying and that’s final. I’m going to help you to the table then we’re all going to sit down and eat. After that, I’ll help get the boys to bed and then we’re going to watch a movie until it’s time to take your next pill.” Without giving him any more room to object, I help him out of the chair and into the dining room where I guide him to his usual chair. We all sit down and, I swear, this little ritual is quickly becoming something I never knew I could want.
Sitting here with Cole and the boys, listening to their random chatter about their day, things they want to do and all the random thoughts that cross Cody’s mind…it’s the most wholesome experience I’ve ever had. Once we’re all done eating, Cole insists on remaining at the table while Holden helps me clean up then I get him to his chair before getting Cody and Joey ready for bed.
“They give you any trouble?” I shake my head as I lower myself into my usual spot on the couch, my eyes watching him, looking for any sign he’s hurting as much as I feel like he probably is. The man’s like Fort Knox, not giving a damn thing away.
“No, no trouble. Let me get your pill for you.” I get up and grab the bottle off the shelf, shake one pill into my hand then return the bottle before turning and handing the small, white pill to him.
“I think you missed your true calling here. Maybe you should’ve been a nurse.” I settle back onto the couch and give him a tired smile, but shake my head.
“Nah. I’d be a shit nurse. The minute someone gets spicy with me, I’d sedate their ass. You got everything you need?” As soon as he nods, I grab the now folded comforter off the other end of the couch, shake it out and lay it over him, ensuring he’s properly covered.
“I owe you big time after all this, Cam.” I roll my eyes as I lean back, stretching my aching back out before tucking my legs up beside me.
“You don’t owe me shit. We’re not keeping score here, Cole. I know you’re having a hard time believing me, but I’m here because I want to be. I’m helping because I want to help. Now, get some sleep because no way in hell am I putting up with you being a grouchy ass in the morning.”